Since everyone is on the subject of grammar may I ask this question? I will admit that my grammar stinks so bad it would make a skunk tuck its tail and run away in defeat but it is so important in a forum-based arena? I was raised in the south and in a school district that believed math was more important than grammar. We had three or four time math training opposed to the English language and it’s structure.
I can understand if some one were reading a novel, short story, or any plot based book that grammar would be of high importance. It is the guide to the tone of each character and the overall story. I also believe that when posting we should do [s]there[/s] our best to post with proper spelling and grammar. But in a forum is it really that important since most post is one-liners?
I ask this question not to make waves but to see how important it is to most people. After all grammar and / or spelling may be a issue with some and when people post negatively about it, it may in someway stop some from posting (in the forums and commenting) in fear of embarrassment or being pointed out as having less intelligence.
Well, considering that grammar is the structure for the language in which we communicate, yes, grammar is important. Not using proper grammar or bothering to spellcheck when you're not sure of something makes you look uneducated. If you're fantastic in math and science and want to present an idea, how can you possibly expect to be taken seriously if you come across so poorly? For instance, a resume hit the bank today in which the applicant stated that he "herd" about what a great bank we are. If I was doing the hiring, I wouldn't be calling him in for an interview. In the meantime, I'm kicking ass in my Statistics class, not because I'm good at mathematical theory, but because my case studies are flawlessly written.
I expect language to evolve, but so much of what we're seeing these days looks more like disintegration. How "ludacris".
Well, considering that grammar is the structure for the language in which we communicate, yes, grammar is important. Not using proper grammar or bothering to spellcheck when you're not sure of something makes you look uneducated. If you're fantastic in math and science and want to present an idea, how can you possibly expect to be taken seriously if you come across so poorly? For instance, a resume hit the bank today in which the applicant stated that he "herd" about what a great bank we are. If I was doing the hiring, I wouldn't be calling him in for an interview. In the meantime, I'm kicking ass in my Statistics class, not because I'm good at mathematical theory, but because my case studies are flawlessly written.
I expect language to evolve, but so much of what we're seeing these days looks more like disintegration. How "ludacris".
This is an internet forum. Sure you spend the time ensuring your grammar is correct in those situations, but discussions here are not even close to that important, so whining about grammar in a forum such as this is just ridiculous.
My BIGGEST pet peeve...."irregardless"....NOT a word! The word is REGARDLESS.
From dictionary.com:
"Usage Note: Irregardless is a word that many mistakenly believe to be correct usage in formal style, when in fact it is used chiefly in nonstandard speech or casual writing. Coined in the United States in the early 20th century, it has met with a blizzard of condemnation for being an improper yoking of irrespective and regardless and for the logical absurdity of combining the negative ir- prefix and -less suffix in a single term. Although one might reasonably argue that it is no different from words with redundant affixes like debone and unravel, it has been considered a blunder for decades and will probably continue to be so."
...but it is so important in a forum-based arena?...
Well, to be honest, as a middle-aged middle-class middle-management business person with a degree in English literature and no literary outlet except email, contract documents and these forums, .....Yes, it is important to me.
HOWEVER, the level of importance is generally confined to my own posts.
I hate to see an "edited" note in one of my comments or observations. I do notice when someone spells "definitely" with an "a" or uses a wrong homonym ("to" for "too" eg.). But I get over it and move on. Life is too short, and there are people with far more prestige, wealth, and fame than me who make grammatical blunders all the time.
Of course, my dad was saying "Nukyular" long before our esteemed president made it infamous.
Well, considering that grammar is the structure for the language in which we communicate, yes, grammar is important. Not using proper grammar or bothering to spellcheck when you're not sure of something makes you look uneducated. If you're fantastic in math and science and want to present an idea, how can you possibly expect to be taken seriously if you come across so poorly? For instance, a resume hit the bank today in which the applicant stated that he "herd" about what a great bank we are. If I was doing the hiring, I wouldn't be calling him in for an interview. In the meantime, I'm kicking ass in my Statistics class, not because I'm good at mathematical theory, but because my case studies are flawlessly written.
I expect language to evolve, but so much of what we're seeing these days looks more like disintegration. How "ludacris".
This is an internet forum. Sure you spend the time ensuring your grammar is correct in those situations, but discussions here are not even close to that important, so whining about grammar in a forum such as this is just ridiculous.
Hmm... I'm thinking that a photographer in an internet forum whose posts are littered with egregious spelling and grammar errors and who can't be bothered to care to correct them looks unprofessional. If you don't know when to use the proper form of to/too or have no idea what the difference between ludicrous/ludacris is, why should I think you know what you're talking about? I'm much more likely to listen to someone who knows how to talk and write properly and doesn't make such silly distinctions as "it's only an internet forum". Fact is, you never know who is watching or who might have tossed an opportunity your way. Only an internet forum, indeed. I think you're missing an opportunity if you treat it as such.
I'll notice other people's errors and then make the same mistakes myself. Still, I don't think it's whining to try and halt the corruption (or slow the evolution) of a language, even on the internet. Correct spelling and grammar foster good communication.
I'll agree with thomas (and his people) also. I am a stickler for my own grammar and spelling although I do make mistakes. If I see that I have made a spelling, grammar, typo in a post, I go through a brief decision conflict: Should I fix it and have that ugly "Post Edited..." tag on it, or just leave it?? Almost invariably, I can't live with the mistake.
If I am anything bad, I am probably notoriously evil for my abuse of parentheses (or paranthetical excess and misuse) or my obsession with hyphens - I dashed out of school before I was taught Hyphen 101 (but not before grabbing a handful of parentheses on the way out).
Hmm... I'm thinking that a photographer in an internet forum whose posts are littered with egregious spelling and grammar errors and who can't be bothered to care to correct them looks unprofessional. If you don't know when to use the proper form of to/too or have no idea what the difference between ludicrous/ludacris is, why should I think you know what you're talking about? I'm much more likely to listen to someone who knows how to talk and write properly and doesn't make such silly distinctions as "it's only an internet forum". Fact is, you never know who is watching or who might have tossed an opportunity your way. Only an internet forum, indeed. I think you're missing an opportunity if you treat it as such.
I don't find it as important as you do I guess. I do however, find whining about it in a forum to be a bit ridiculous. I'm not saying I will not correct obvious errors if I see them immediately though.
Hmm... I'm thinking that a photographer in an internet forum whose posts are littered with egregious spelling and grammar errors and who can't be bothered to care to correct them looks unprofessional. If you don't know when to use the proper form of to/too or have no idea what the difference between ludicrous/ludacris is, why should I think you know what you're talking about? I'm much more likely to listen to someone who knows how to talk and write properly and doesn't make such silly distinctions as "it's only an internet forum". Fact is, you never know who is watching or who might have tossed an opportunity your way. Only an internet forum, indeed. I think you're missing an opportunity if you treat it as such.
I don't find it as important as you do I guess. I do however, find whining about it in a forum to be a bit ridiculous. I'm not saying I will not correct obvious errors if I see them immediately though.
Hence the caveat to "egregious". Conversational English is what dominates here, and that's fine. For the most part the forums here aren't bad at all. But consistent, obvious errors do make me cringe. I also have a writing degree, so that probably doesn't help ;-)
This is a forum containing people from different countries. For some people English is not their first language. If you want to be simple minded and judge somebody for something so little, go ahead. It is a forum and not a job interview. I attend ASU as an honors student and will have my bachelors after 2 and a half years of college with a 3.9 gpa. I just wrote a 60 page thesis about how the juvenile justice system treats the mentally ill youth. Of course I sought out every professor to look over my paper. In a forum WHO CARES! Not once did i go over any grammar or spelling mistakes in this reply. Hopefully i have a few, so you can think less aboot me. Americans can barely get over judging by race, now we have to deal with grammar lol. Lets focus on some more important issues in life.
I do however, find whining about it in a forum to be a bit ridiculous.
I agree with this for internet forums in general. I agree even stronger in the case of a forum where not all participants are native speakers.
I often get the feeling that grammar-whiners either have noting else on their hands (get a life guys) or finally found something that they ARE good at.
Found a grammar error in my post? Please contact my loyer/laywer/looier, errmmm, attorny. ;-)
